Impulse emitting device



Aug. 29, 1950 B. H. RULE 2,520,814

IMPULsE EMITTING DEVICE Filed. Feb. 3, 1945 3a sa 2a I 4l\ "'40 23a WATER INLET lNvENToR BRUCE H RULE BY M4( ATT RNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1950 IMPULSE ElVIITTING DEVICE Bruce H. Rule, Pasadena, Calif., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application February 3, 1945, Serial No. 576,121

6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for indicating the position of a body moving in a fluid medium, and more specically to a novel device for emitting intermittent sound impulses to supply data for calculating the path or course of the device.

With the increasing reiinenixent of underwater fire control and detecting instruments, it has bccome increasingly important to compile data on the underwater paths of travel of projectiles such as depth charges, depth bombs, and torpedoes under given conditions.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device to be carried by a body moving in a fiuid for indicating the position of the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a so-called acoustic sounder for mounting in an underwater projectile to initiate a series of sound impulses to indicate the position of the projectile.

Another object of the invention is to provide an acoustic sounder of the type referred to above which emits a series of sound impulses at given increments of pressure of the liquid in which it is submerged.

A further object of the invention is to provide an acoustic sounder of the type referred to above which res a series of easily replaceable explosive charges, and which, except for replacement of the charges, may be used repeatedly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an acoustic sounder of the type referred to above which is proportioned to fit into the fuze opening in an underwater projectile and which, therefore, does not affect the air or underwater trajectories of the projectile in which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an acoustic sounder which is unaffected by transient shocks such as those occasioned when a projectile carrying the device strikes the surface of the water after falling from a considerable height.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specication and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the novel acoustic sounder mounted in a projectile casing;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the sounder Showing the battery arrangement; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the sounder.

The acoustic sounder is adapted to be mounted in a conventional projectile, whether gun fired or in the form of a bomb, or depth charge. In the drawing, the conventional projectile includes a case having an explosive loading opening in one end into which is threaded an adapter ring I 2. The adapter ring supports a fuze cavity liner I3 which is cylindrical and extends into the projectile case. The adapter ring is internally threaded at Iii where a fuze and booster charge unit is normally mounted. The outer dimensions of the acoustic sounder are substanlil tially the same as the fuze and booster charge unit so that it is interchangeable therewith for mounting in threads I4.

The acoustic sounder includes a body member 2| which is externally threaded for engagement with the internal threads I4 of the adapter. Continuing from the inner end of the body inember 2| within the fuze cavity liner I3 is a housing 22 closed at its inner end by wall 22a. Body member 2| is substantially cup shaped, its open end facing outwardly and dening a cavity '23 which receives a multiple contact receptacle 24 and mating -p-lug 25. The contact receptacle and plug are held in place by retainer rings 26 which screw into threaded portion 23a on the interior of the body member. rlhe plug 25 carries a plurality of waterproof explosive charges 21, each of which has one terminal wire connected to plug 25 and one terminal to ground. While only two charges are illustrated in Fig. 1, a relatively large number of charges are usually mounted in the open outer end of the body 2|.

The inner end of the body 2| has an interiorly threaded tubular extension 2| a which supports a tubular bellows case 28 in which is mounted a bellows 29 of the Sylphon type. The fixed inner end of the bellows vis secured to an end ring 3B mounted in the extended or inner end of the bellows case 28. The outer or free end of the bellows 29 is secured to the head 3| of a stem 32 which projects inwardly through the bellows and end ring 30. A spring 33 is interposed between the end ring 33 and the head 3| of stem 3'2. The inner or protruding end of the stem 32 is threaded and carries a cup shaped resilient contact umbrella 34 which is held in place by nut 32a. The contact umbrella is adapted to engage in sequence a plurality of contact studs 34a helically disposed in a contact supporting sleeve 36 which screws onto the inner end of the bellows case 28.

Lead wires 3'| connect the contact studs 35 to the contacts of the multiple contact receptacle 24. Space is provided between the inner end of the contact sleeve 36 and inner end wall 22a of the shell 22 to form a compartment for a nlurality of batteries 38 which are connected by wire 36a to ground and by a wire 38a to the contact umbrella 34. A partition 39, adjustably mounted on the inner end of the contact sleeve by means of screws 39a, supports the batteries.

The body 2| is provided at its inner end with radial passages M communicating with the interior of the bellows case 28 through a central opening 46a. The radial passages join longitudinal passages GI which extend outwardly within the walls of the body 2| into communication with radially directed water inlet openings 52. A relatively large chamber communicating with the passages is aiTorded between the bellows 29 and bellows case 28 for a purpose which will be explained presently.

A removable handle 43 is provided for securing and removing the cartridge plug.

The operation of the acoustic sounder is as follows:

The projectile with the acoustic sounder installed therein, is projected or dropped into water. The relatively large air lled chamber formed between the bellows 29 and its ycase 23, together with the restricted passages communicating therewith, prevent any transient pressure, such as the shock incidental to the impact of the projectile on the water, from influencing the bellows.

As the projectile descends in the water. it travels at a velocity which is suiciently slow that the pressure against the bellows is substantially equal to the external hydrostatic pressure against the projectile. This pressure tends to move stem 32 inwardly against spring 33, collapsing the bellows and causing the umbrella contact 3l?. to engage in sequence the contact studs 35 to fire te charges 2"! in corresponding order. Thus, the acoustic sounder may be designed by varying the tension of spring 33 or the spacing of contact studs 35 so that the charges are fired at rive ,foot intervals of depth or any other spacing, depending upon the number of squibs and the depth range throughout which it is desired to detect the explosions of the squibs.

In order to compile data from the use of the acoutic sounder, it is preferable to use the device in conjunction with underwater sound detecting devices such as hydrophones located at known points and associated with recording apparatus so that the underwater trajectories of the projectiles can be determined.

It is, of course, desirable that the hydrop-hones or other sound detecting device receive a, signal when the projectile strikes the water. This initial signal is supplied by the impact of the projectile itself on the water.

I claim:

l. A device for indicating the position oi a projectile moving in a trajectory increasing the submergence thereof in a liquid medium, said projectile having a fuze compartment, comprising, in combination, a casing adapted to be positioned in the fuze compartment, a plurality of electrically ignitable impulse generating charges positioned in the outer end of said casing, and a hydrostatic pressure responsive, multiple contact switch in said casing exposed to the hydrostatic pressure of said medium, the contacts of said switch being connected in sequence to said charges, whereby said charges are red in sequence as the hydrostatic pressure of said medium increases.

2. A device for indicating the position of a projectile moving through an underwater trajectory increasing the submergence thereof in a liquid medium, the hydrostatic pressure of which varies progressively, comprising, in combination, a plurality of electrically ignitable impulse generating charges carried by said projectile in contact with said medium, a hydrostat, an electrical Contact movable by said hydrostat in response to changes in hydrostatic pressure of said medium, a plurality of stationary contacts adapted to be contacted in sequence by said movable Contact, each of said stationary contactsv being connected to one of said charges, whereby said movable contact engages said stationary contacts in sequence to re said charges in sequence as the hydrostatic fluid pressure changes.

iii)

3. A device for indicating the position of a body moving in a trajectory increasing the submergence thereof in a liquid medium, comprising, in combination, a plurality of electrically ignitable explosive charges carried by said body in contact with said medium, a hydrostatic pressure operated switch for igniting said charges in sequence at predetermined pressure increments. and means for securing against operation of said switch by transient pressure increases.

4. An acoustic sounder for use with an underwater projectile having a fuze compartment, comprising, in combination, a casing Afor said sounder adapted for mounting in said fuze compartment, an electrical battery in said casing, a hydrostat, a movable switch contact connected electrically to said battery and mechanically to said hydrostat so as to be movable in response to charges in the hydrostatic pressure of fluid surrounding the projectile, a series of iixed' contacts adapted to be engaged in sequence by said movable contact, and a plurality of electrically ignitable explosive charges detachably mounted in said casing, said charges being connected to said i'ixed contacts, whereby said movable contact engages said xed contacts in sequence to re said charges in sequence as the water pressure increases.

5. An acoustic sounder for use with an underwater projectile having a fuze compartment, comprising, in combination, a casing for said sounder adapted for mounting in said Juze` compartment, a multiple contact assembly having a receptacle fixed in said casing' and a removable plug accessible lfrom the outside of said casing and projectile, a plurality of electrically ignitable impulse generating charges carried by said plug and removable therewith,4 and a hydrostatic pressure operable multiple contact switch connected with said charges, whereby the increasing hydrostatic pressure as the projectile sinks in the water operates the switch to re said charges at predetermined increments of' pressure.

6. An acoustic sounder for use with an, underwater projectile having a fuze compartment, comprising, in combination, a casing for said sounder adapted for mounting in said fuze com partment, a multiple contact assembly having a receptacle fixed in said casing and a removable plug accessible from the outside of said casing and projectile, `a plurality of electrically ignitable impulse generating charges carried by said plug and removable therewith, a hydrostatic pressure operable multiple contact switch connected with said charges, and means -for securing against operation of said switch by transient pressure increases, whereby the increasing hydrostatic pressure as the projectile sinks in the water operates the switch to iire said charges at predetermined increments of pressure.

BRUCE RULE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,459,793 Pape June 26, 1923 1,473,148 Hammond Nov. 6, 1.923 1,763,377 Sperry June; 10, 19.30 1,780,592 Johansson Nov. 4, 1930 2,322,229 Diamond June 22, 19,43 

